Rouse Steeplechase features two with wins over the course
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Before Arlington Million festivities kick off at Colonial Downs on Saturday, the $100,000 Randolph D. Rouse Steeplechase will take center stage on Thursday morning. Trainer Neil Morris has entered Avakate and Love Foreverafter, a pair of mares coming off commanding maiden victories over the course in Virginia.
Avakate, a 7-year-old who has spent most of her career in Europe, finally broke through in her fourth North American start over hurdles on July 24, winning a $64,000 maiden special weight at Colonial by 12 1/2 lengths.
“We’re actually looking for a little bit of improvement from that start,” Morris said. “I wish we had an extra seven days, which we would have had. Our original plan was to run her two weeks earlier, but it got canceled. But she’s fast and quick with a high cruising speed.”
Morris might have appreciated giving Avakate more time between starts, but 5-year-old mare Love Foreverafter should benefit from the additional week. She had a similar break before her last start, when she won a restricted $34,000 maiden special weight at Colonial by nine lengths on July 17.
“We gave her an allowance race at Presque Isle Downs just going a mile, only to sharpen her up, not to win that race,” Morris said. “That was about three weeks before running her at Colonial Downs, and it really helped her.”
Love Foreverafter and Avakate are the favorites on the morning line in the field of eight and will open at 7-2 and 4-1, respectively. Post time is 11:55 a.m.
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